Think twice before including this in your plans.

I absolutely hate hot weather, so there’s no time of year that makes me feel quite as giddy as the arrival of fall and, most importantly, fireplace season. Now that autumn is here, I’ve been thinking more about fireplace decor and looking for easy, affordable ways to dress up my own mantel.

Sarah Bryant’s (@sarah_louwho) over-100-year-old Brownstone apartment came with a lot of charm: original woodwork, two fireplaces, flower pots on the stoop, and friendly neighbors. A few things that weren’t so nice or charming? The large window right next to the toilet in her bathroom, the dated tan-and-black tile, and the hardware in the space. “The upgrades [over time] left some room for improvement that I’ve been happy to build on,” Sarah says.